[shazaam]

Originally Posted by CJDG

I switched from Pro Mark... I think back in like 1996/7. I was a die hard user of the 747 series stick. Though I prefer a wood tip to nylon. The stick I settled on after a bunch of trials through hot sticks/aquarian/silverfox/regal tip/etc... was Vic Firth Buddy Rich series... The stick rebound and how it sounded on the drums/cymbals were unmatched.

I've since modified my playing style, I'm more efficient, and hitting A LOT harder. I switched up to a Vic Firth Thomas Lang series after another trial run through many stick types.
The specs: A large shaft and oversized tear drop tip, hickory. L = 16 1/8", Dia. = .650"

So far they are heavy and I am building my stamina up... but they sound great and are a lot more durable than the buddy rich. I was finding that with the buddy rich model I'd get maybe two hours play out of them before I would crack them right down the wood grain.

Now before anyone starts complaining about me sticking wrong I'd like to point out that I have been drumming for over 20 years and decided to spend the last few months with intensive study in sticking methods... such as Moeller, gravity blasts, germanic, american, etc... I have been trying to add tools to my belt.

doesn't mean your sticking is right though Not saying they're wrong cause I know I don't know but yea. I love the moeller stuff lool.
Iono, it's rare a pair of sticks doesn't last me maybe 20-30+hrs of playing..on and off obviously :P

[revxml]

I'm right there with ya. I've been playing since I was twelve or thirteen, and I'm forty now (not as active gig-wise as I used to be). But I always loved the snare sound that Stewart Copeland got, in fact I bought a CB brass 13x5.5 snare (I was in a bind because someone broke into a club I was playing and stole my birch tama and some other items) that ended up being the best, tightest, snare I've ever played. Anyway, to get that sound I played rimshots on the snare, almost constantly. Plus, I was never quite a "glancing" cymbal player. Consequently, the 808s lasted much longer than the 5Bs (or any other comparable stick) did.
Good look with the new sticks!
kb

	Tama Drums Shop for Tama Drums at Musician's Friend

[CJDG]

It wasn't until I ramped up my style that the sticks started breaking. I wasn't just playing the tip or sholder anymore. I am bouncing the center of the stick off the snare rim more, using not only the tip but the butt of the stick. I end up with dents all down the stick.

The tip begins to crack and then at some point it just gives....

Beefing up the stick has sure helped a lot.

I was joking around with the comment above about my sticking being wrong... as a matter of fact I do play very loose... but I am sure there are lots of errors to my playing style. I am pretty sure the cracks end up happening from smacking the tip of the rim accidently with the stick...

I've been playing around with the stick balance recently. I used to just use one kind of stick and that would be it. Now I am finding use for all kinds of stick sizes to match what I am playing. So long as I get the stick balance point down it is all good from there.

[CJDG]

Originally Posted by revxml

I'm right there with ya. I've been playing since I was twelve or thirteen, and I'm forty now (not as active gig-wise as I used to be). But I always loved the snare sound that Stewart Copeland got, in fact I bought a CB brass 13x5.5 snare (I was in a bind because someone broke into a club I was playing and stole my birch tama and some other items) that ended up being the best, tightest, snare I've ever played. Anyway, to get that sound I played rimshots on the snare, almost constantly. Plus, I was never quite a "glancing" cymbal player. Consequently, the 808s lasted much longer than the 5Bs (or any other comparable stick) did.
Good look with the new sticks!
kb

I've use glancing blows to the cymbal in certain applications, like jazz. I think it does have it's place... but I prefer straight up and down. I feel you on the rim shots as well because sometimes if the song is calling for it rim shots dominate. It is another sound. If you play right you can get thousands of sounds from one drum...

	Tama Drums Shop for Tama Drums at Musician's Friend

[jhilldrums]

I still think the dog needs some attention...... : )

[skinslapper]

Okay, so I've now given the silverfox a good run and they too have failed me. I played a gig on the weekend and all but one of my tips came off. I found one so now I have two of my four sticks. I've glued them back on (as I've done so many times before) but looks like I'm gonna have to give in and find some wood tips. I'm thinking I might stick with the silverfoxes. I'm enjoying their extra weight at the mo' and the ball bearing tip is giving me a lot of punch.

[CJDG]

Originally Posted by Harry

Hi Skinslapper,

I just had a look at some sticks I did not see before, here at my local music shop in Auckland NZ. (musicworks)
They were Aquarian sticks, called graphite lights, they come in the 5A and 5B size. there is also a power-sleeve variation, you can have a look at them at the aquarian website.
I tried them (the lights) and I found them surprisingly good.
I do not use nylon tips, but as you do use nylon tips this might be the answer for you.
I do not know if you can get them "over the ditch" but I think it might be worth a try. If you cannot get them, I am sure that I can facilitate something from here.
I think the price here in NZ was in the low $30ties, but I have to check.
Quite a bit of money for one pair but hey, if they going to last it's worth it.

Cheers and happy drumming,

Harry

Like Harry has mentioned...
Give the powersleeve a try. I got a pair looooong time ago when I still used nylon tips. I can remember popping the nylon heads off all the time but with the powersleeve the material they use is much more durable. I kinda got annoyed with the powersleeve material in the rimshot area... but who knows you might like it.

	Aquarian Drumheads Shop for Aquarian Drumheads at Musician's Friend

[skinslapper]

Yeah, I used to play ahead a while back, but, like you said, no rim shots and the feel and bounce were just not there.

	Ahead Drumsticks Shop for Ahead Drumsticks at Musician's Friend

[jhilldrums]

Poor dog. No-one wants to put out their hand........

You shouldn't have to be building a shop in the basement to repair sticks! Do your sticks have a finish on them, and whats the weather in AU? Could it be humid, then really dry causing expansion etc? Just a thought..........


PET THE DAMN DOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[skinslapper]

I'm not sure what sort of finish they're putting on sticks these days, but the tip loss seems to be a regular thing. I've just bought two pairs of vater sugar maple blazers with wooden tips. I also picked up a pair of 2b pro-marks to try and get to the bottom of my problem. The guy at the shop thought maybe my snare is on so much of angle that my downward strokes are pulling the heads away from the stick, so I'm gonna try leveling it this week.

	Vater Drumsticks Shop for Vater Drumsticks at Musician's Friend